Might this Crimson Rabbit change the GWM Haval Jolion small SUV in Australia?

Chinese language automobile large GWM might replace its burgeoning Haval SUV vary in Australia with a brand new small SUV to switch the favored Jolion – the Crimson Rabbit.

The Chitu – which interprets to ‘crimson rabbit’ in Mandarin – is twinned with the Jolion below the pores and skin, sharing a selection of petrol or hybrid energy.

Given the similarities between the 2 autos – and that this not directly changed the Jolion in China – it’s understood the Crimson Rabbit my change the Jolion in Australia, despite the fact that the latter has been on sale in Australia for simply three years.

When requested whether or not the Crimson Rabbit – which has been spied in transport in Australia – is a risk for the native market, GWM Australia communications and advertising and marketing boss Steve Maciver advised Drive: “Watch this area.”

When pressed on doable timing for showroom arrivals – or affirmation of the automobile for native sale – Mr Maciver reiterated: “Watch this area, there will likely be information with reference to this automobile.”

The Haval Jolion, which is the model’s present providing within the small SUV section, has been on sale in Australia since 2021 after debuting on the Beijing motor present in 2020.

Whereas it’s but to be confirmed by GWM, it’s understood the similarly-sized Crimson Rabbit might change the Jolion – which is barely three years previous in Australia – and should even decide up its title, which suggests ‘old flame’.

The place many carmakers sometimes have an roughly eight-year life cycle for a automobile earlier than a brand new technology mannequin, GWM seems to cycle by means of fashions in about half that point. 

In China the Crimson Rabbit was launched in 2021, the identical 12 months the Jolion was dropped in GWM’s dwelling market – although the Crimson Rabbit/Chitu is pitched as a successor to an earlier GWM Haval SUV, the F5, which was by no means offered in Australia.

A 2700mm wheelbase is shared between the Crimson Rabbit and Jolion, and seems to make use of an identical derivation of GWM’s L.E.M.O.N platform.

In line with GWM’s Chinese language web site, the Haval Crimson Rabbit is powered by a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine producing 135kW and 275Nm, mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch automated transmission. 

This offers it a small on-paper enhance in energy and torque over the identical 1.5-litre turbocharged engine within the present Jolion, which develops as much as 130kW/270Nm regionally.

The choice of a 1.5-litre hybrid system appears to be like to hold over for the Crimson Rabbit as effectively, which seems to have the identical outputs as the present Jolion hybrid offered in Australia.